Means for concentrating ores.



T. A. EDISDN,

NEANSFOR CCNCENTRATING ORESY,

APPLlCsTION FILED MAY23. l9i2.

Ful

` T. A. EDISON. MEANS FOR CONCENTRATING ORES.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZS, I9I2.

Patented Jan. 1I

-\ EDISON.

MEANS FOR CONCENTRATING GRES.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZS, ISI?.

memes.

To 553 101mm.. muy concern f -Se il; known that L Tmums A Eusos, u citizen, of tllelnte States, :mil a resident of Llewellyn Faul, TWest .(ange, 4 Essex county', 7`Tew Jersey, have inventefl a ce1-- minnen' und useful Means for .Concentratng Gres, of which the following is u deserptoul l My invention lelutes to iuxpmvementsn memes for concentrating ores, in which the ore elolyxsttueuts 0 "be separated uml separately cullected me'of dlerent densities.

The. carrying.; or transporting pmver of flowing waterfor ether liquid depends upon lle velocity yof `the .liquid and the (lensty und effthe particles subjected to the carryhg or trauspovtng ne'leuce` o"` the mviilgj liquid. l? 011 any defaults velocityA of flou' o1? the liquid, elle fls'euee hruugh which e. particle scm'red epeude upon the deusiy `and size Q1 fue partida also upon he depth sf the liquid; the les' elle pzusle's, .the grenier alle dstzmce transp ed, anflwfgesv le less the alle, particle, the; greater the dis.- tuuce, and lice versa.' The-deepertheliquld is thegrester dstuneethe perecle 'is tms ported and Vvice versa. OY@ constituents Gf dfeeilt composiions hay@ as vs ruledfe# sume density. pljoposeo use the. df`e1- ences m the' arrymg trsnsportmg elle@ of n unlorn'lly 'lowlug llqujld io separate.

uilll cousut 610115,

cumpositicms, and tu concentrate ore carried of? im such' furthei operations es are uecessary'or desirable, uml the talu s of like densities and composif, 10.311063, cousss gen;y

esegue.

@Homme mises@ es LLEWELLYNPARK, wss@ @RANG-E, NEW muses'.

MEANS GNG'ENTBTXNG Extent.

smal H0. esegue.

'ae emovefl :m disposed of. The. mid- 'dlugs 11u-y be sggax. subjected to the sepa raiug audvcancentmtmg influence of a um:

PMs-Entel?. Juifs..

formly flowing liquid 0i the character here#A nbeforc described, eitl'xe prim.' te or subsequent to xerushing, und u more complee sep.- arntumthus pbtalned. These. steps may be repea'edas many imes as desired. Under some' circumstances l muy ncl ia, derrsble to apply lle proeess 'w the @ons f in 'order' to obtain ahlghelr depgeeel Lenses tration. f

My 'linventiep includes also means for car- .lylug out myA improved method, and both the 'mehod und means are'more fully de- Fm* such fui-hm escrpon, reference is lim?. :lg-0 the dwugs which accompany and ferm pas@ of this speecation, and in' Wlchw n 'y lflguxe l is s plan View o concentratlug 'sunk sfl other apparatus ycmlsttutug (me` eri'llao nent nfvmeuus suiableos carrying um: my improved method; Fig. 9. is a- Vertical, lengtudlual, sectional View of aportmn o' the apparutus shown m Fg. l YFlg.

' 3 s an enlarged, transverse, YSeeiorml,View

of a. portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. l an @,Fg, 4 is a. View smlartofg. 3, but shsiwiug 'a pipel and pump for elevating lemdl ,sins'teid of .1 bucket elevator; 5 plan view illustrating a. pluality 1efeonceumfit-ugtanks advantageously au venge 6 is` au eularged,-vert`1r.:al, trans verse, 'sec'teuul View of sped-ion 'of theappmatus llusmtutefl in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a plan View llusz'utugl plurality ol'con centifatug haulass modiled ferm armuge `:his 'marmer smlm t0 fhat' lllusmte. in 'Figs-...Bami 5.

'sis

. im elsuged,' substantially level, eness cen'uaton of `the ore takes place, xonnecteclk `by wuuded poumons or by 'rsuncled portlons and Caller' straight4 port-ions.` n the hppa? mtus lllustrated,

Yhave shown t'wo 'such sbtggsxght portions lOLL "and 10 for the con-- a liquid, preferably Water, of suitable depth,

and means for producing a flow `'ofthe `water through thetank is providedv,sufch, for eX- ample, as a Waterwheel 11. The water wheel 11 may be driven by .any suitable means, as for example, the electric motor 12 connected or geared thereto, and is d'li've'n at such a velocity as to produce the desired rate of ow of the Water, which is preferably a rather slow rate. In Fig. 1,'the di-` rection of the flow of Water is indicated by the arrows. The width-of the tank, the depth of the water and the rate of flow may be vari-ed Within wide limits, depend' in'g on the character and size of the cre to be treated. For example, I have employed a tank about fourteen inches wide, with a flow of Water at about sixteen feet per minute and about three -feet deep when working With-materialof '25 mesh. In my improved method it is desirable that the lines of flow of the water shall be substantially parallel tothe general direction of flow of the water, that is to Say, the f'lowing water shall be substantiallyy free from Whirls and eddies, and that the yvelocity along all of the lines of fiow shall be substantially uniform throughout each cross section of those portions of the tank vin which separation and concentration of the ores take place, and I provide means, suchv 'as battle plates 13,- which are slotted or perforated, and located across the tank in the path ofthe water after it leaves the water wheelll and at the entrance of the straight portion 10n in order to produce` this result, and to free the Water from such waves, eddies, and whirls as are produced therein by the water wheel. The ore which is to be operated upon is crushed and sieved to a substantially uniform size by any suitable means, and preferably by a wet procand is introduced into the uniformly fiowing water at the surface thereof preferably in a thin sheet, or what is equivalent to a thin sheet, a series of thin streams. I have illustrated-a feed chute 14 for introducing the thin sheet of sized ore particles intothc water. Thefced chute 14 may beprovided with longitudinallyextending grooves, as indicated in connectiony with feed chute Q4 inFig. 3, to insure the feeding of. the material in a. thin slieetpor any other suitable means to insure this result, suf-li as a roller feed, may be employed. The' sized orc ihay be introduced into the feed .chute 14 by any suitable means. such as a i'ccd chute 14. A float l5 is provided adjaccnt tbc outlet end of the chute in ordcr to insure complete subinersion of' the orc. Ain/'suitable liu-ans is provided to prcvcnt tbc, float bciu;r carried awayl'rou'i its: operativo position by tbc watci' currcut, t a suitable distance from "the outlet end of the feed chute 14, a group operations thereon as .ported a distance intermediate betweenthe two distances mentioned.v The pockets -16, 17 and' 18 are located so that the densest constituents. or concentrates are deposited in thetirst pocket, that is, in 16, the least dense constituents or tailin s are deposited in the pocket 18, and the mlddlings, or constituents of intermediate density or a mixture of the densest and least dense constituents,.are deposited in the intermediatepocket 1'?.4 AAdjustable parting boards 35 and 36 are provided between the pockets 16 and 17, and 17 and 18 respectively, en

. ablin-g the operator 'to vary the` effective receiving areas of the 'pockets and still lfur-A ther control the separation of kore constituents into concentrates, middlings and tailings. The concentrates deposited in the `pocket 16 are removedY from the pocket through/pipe 19 communcatinfr with amain pipe 20 to whichis connecte( a pump 20.,

The concentrates are carried off by means. of the. pipeA 20 and pump 20 to any convenient point for such `further proccssesnr may be necessary or desirable. The tailings deposited in the `pocket 18 `are removed therefrom through pipe 21 communicating with a main pipe Q2. Vwhich is connected to a pump-3T.. The tail-l ings may be carried ofi1 through vthe pipe 2Q to 'any convenient point and disposed of. The milldlings deposited in the intermedi ate pocket 17 are elevated by'any suitable means,` such, for example, as a bucket ele? vator 2.3, and depositedin a feed chute '24. which 1s preferably longitudinally vgrooved t from which they are fed into the flowing water to be influence.

One or.more slotted-or perforated baille again subjected to its separating .plates 49 are provided in the path .of'the flowing wateryaf'ter it has passed thc first I group ofpockets 116,17 andf18 in orden to Insure uniform velocity in all portions of its cross section dui-ine thc next sepa rating` operation. The middlings received in the i'ccd chute 24 from the clcvatingf'means 23 are introduced into the water; preferably in .a ythin slicctat a pointbcyoud tbc balllc 'plate l. float similar to flic float l5 provided for insuriu,r tbc complete submersion of' thc lnatcrial l'cd from Ibc fccd chute fil. .second froup or scrics of' transverse pockets '15. :2li and Li' 'is provided in iluboltom of' ilu` lauk atsui-tablc distances from the outlet of the feed chute'l to receive the l 25 Llimit siniil'm te oat 15 In the first of these in the .new ef the Water.

deposited, in

pockets 253,A concentrates are the second, 2G, middlings are in the third 27, tailings nre deposited. The concentrates are cin-rieti et? by means ot -zi pipe Communicating with the mein pipe 2O `-fer the concentrates, sind the pocket 2S are eer eoinmnifiienting with the :nein pipe *for the teiings. The middiings from the intermediate pocket 26 are elevated by suitmiele menne, such es a bucket elevator '28,

and depnsited te the 'feed chute 24, fed inte the Sewing water te jeeted to the separating process.- inoz'eheiiie pintesll'ee provided beyone the gronpwf pckets 25, 2G und '27' in order 20. to `inem-e "nnifeg'in veleeity et 'the -wziter Inihere the materiel from the chute 29 is inr tredneed. The materiel vfrom elinte 29 is inti'ndneed beyond the belie plete 30. pret emhiy' in if thin sheet', and underneath :i for insuringl the eomfrom which they are lie again suhplete suln'nersien et l.the material. group of. pocketsl, 32- and 33 is provided gig suitable distances from tlieferitlet end of the feed ehu'e "29 for receiving-the different Snare Censtituents oi the cre fed' from, the feed chiite 29 when depesie l. in this group o peehets 'the comenta-nies ure received in the innie Si. the middlings .in the pocket -32` und the tailings in the poelet `The enneentretes from the pocket Jil nre-enrried inte the renin pipe '20 by ineens; 0 nhle pipe connection; the tailings from 'the 'pocket 33 ere enrrieflinto the pipe for the ifeeeptinn of; the tailings; dlings nre carried into :s pipe 41 hy whrel'i Ahey muy he eenreyedto any convenient v peint te he rilgrnund and :renin submitted te the sopera giljnszihle panting' linm'fds similar to part. ing lui-.nuls :i5 und 5511i :rre i'n'evided 'between ,.-se-flizieent j'ieelets Qi? each group. l i'ihed ene eon'ipleiesei'ies jeetnn oi" tlnainuterinl te the, :retien e the 'imving runter the 'weet num di-irland. ninny @groups of pockets s de-v sired msiy he pi'mf'ideil., und in seine crises unl)7- ai .single group me): he neefssiu'y, sind rthe ermlied sind sized nniterie". snhjeetedte the 'process gine er ns many tiinesns may lie desired. ilditiminlsets et separating eppuriitns muy he prni'iided in the tank. und l here slniwn mie edditienz'd set simile? the .set fleserixgied in the peitinn of' the temi; in'nneilintel: usui'eeeding the port-ion ust desrilxed, und lieve shown two suele sets in the other 'eight ,iiertinn Ui el the tank. l nifty n provide :i set el linllfle plates 40 tlirengli n1 r must pass in order rien thev wete deposited, und

the tnilingsffrnm' med oii threugh :i pipe in the feed chute 29, sirnihn` One orl A vthird 'Y f' a Suit n and the mid;

ring und concentrating process. i

tlind, lint ob- 'my nielmsl is net linnted te the sub-:p

bei' of times' de ,v

the tank.

p1* fornily sized ot the euri-ying or slew und substuntmll depth being degree of' separation uents olf ldifferent l 1 li'erent distances material 1s uid, the velocity being the ore emistitnentsin suspens;

sullieientv to insure' the desired introduced into theliquid.

to reachvthe second straight portion 10" `of It should he observed that in my improved Ocess l have'subjeeted substantially unipnrtieles et' creto the influence transporting effect 0i e y uniform flew of liqlnsulllexent to retain on, and the of the ore constituents whereby the constity this wary I :un enabled te separate and colnstend nf usingr bn lect the'diierent grades et' material.

cket' elevators for feeding 'feed eliute,. nmy use n pipe andeetunte the inidkllixigs by :i .suitable tien lsshown in Fig.

:i pipe lending frein receive middlings and, l

ding feed chute, the midis tei being-actuated by `ineens in the next succee (llings :1ndV oi' n pump 39. JSG ete., 'are :provided in I(.entiolling tl J; nents mixed with w c pockets.

tzinks lying ene within pinnp. T his modifienfi, in whiehS indicates :i pocket intended to depositing the saine iteble valves 19a, 21a., pipes19, 2l, ete., for

ie HOW ofv the ure` constiteter from the varices lieve shown e series of theother.` each of the snidtnnls being constructed and arranged 4in the inanner tanks 5d,

neetion with' Figs. i.,

5l find '52 nre shown,

ierenbe't'nre described ineen- :nid e. Three the tank 52 i being the inner andthe tunlel surrounding enit 50 sinroundlng the the tenlt and the t tank 51. Nutei Wh other suitable nieens eels 53, 54C' and w35, oi iter predueing n, `new of ruit-euere' provided 'for the tanksy 5()7 `51 und respectively.

The water wheels 53,

5l and mail; lie-driven independently of eneh other er `in unisnn.-

lates 5C, 57 und 5S "entrance of the first strnight And ,respeelnvely,` and fre-npstunk's 5l),

L )fpbniie 'fletes s neer the entinnce ti: is et the tanks Ltd'.

v,tanks et pzliiits in the manner sl in tanks irnd the series of nl). tun

lis is provided w litionnl lmlie phi beyond eeen grou nee `pre peiticns ofthe nl, Si) and 6l' ei'e pifevided of the seeend straight per- ."ii and 52 iespectively. tes* 'ere leeeted in the inten in 2. Such i5 sind 58 2 respectively. At 74, chutes e'l ided' fee-tanks nei' lieyeinhefere desercilied in connection receiving the eoneen l. Referring 'teY the Groups et lmillek vided neer the s @leech ni" the/tanks,

ed from the pockets for traites. middiings, and

tailings' respectively in tank 50; 65, ,66 and'- 67 denote pipes leading from the pockets receiving thejconcentrates, iri`ddlings and tail` the ynext succeeding feed 'chute throughpipes. as indicated at T1. T2 and T3. when it is desired to again subject tlieiniddlingsvto the process. or the niiddhn'gs may beconveyed to aroiivenie'nt point for recrusbing.

A\mong the advantages ol the structure illustrated in Figs. 5 and (i are .compactness and economy ot' construction. 'lanks arranged in this manner`oceiipy less space, and coin-l iiion walls iiiay be employed. i

in the iiiodilication disclosed in I"ig. 7

l have illustrated three tanks. an iiitei'ioi' tank HO. an intermediate tank H1. and :in

exterior tank Si). The interior tank 8() has i a narroiv straight portion .Qn and "a vwider straight portion BT. Tank 8l has a straight portion 8H widerthan thestraiglit portion 8T and a wider straight portion Si). 'lank $2 has a straight portion El() wider ythan the straight portion Si! and a straight portion 91 -\v ider than the straight' portion 4Slt).

Means for producing a liow of the water.

such as water wheels H3', Si and H5. are provided for the.. tanks S0. Sl and Si. respectively.

tanks BL. 81 and 80 yrespectively. The

groups of pockets 'are provided in each of.

the, tanks as in thel structures hereinbciore described. and baiiie plates 98 `arefprovided in eachof the` tanks beyond each group of (pockets consists of a'pwket Si!) `for eonceiitrates, a pocket l0() forniddlings, and a vpocket 10i for tailings. Similar groups are provided in this tank and -in the other tanks. ipes for conveying away the coiieentri'ites and tailings are"provided` as described inv connection with Figs. 5 and (Land pipes for receiving the iiiiddlingsand-emiveying the saine either to-be, reeruslied or to be again lcio subjected t'tlwpl'fess inthe. manner here. inbefore `described are v provided.

chutes and ni'eans for elevatiingthe middlings are provided. but are not shown in this figure `for the. sake of clearness. iiioditied Jr'orni ot' tanks and arrangement of the saine illustrated in lig. 7. 'l have provided nieans for readily obtaining successively slower rates'oi fion' of ivater.- This Sets yof baille' plates Si?. and 93. 9iand 95. and 9G and 9'( are proiided for the i rmi ln the i result isdue to the 4successively increasingj areas of cross section of the tank portions 8G, 8T, S8 89, 90 and 91 respectivelyn This constructii'm isparticularly adapted for separating and concentrating oreconstituents of successively smaller sizes. 1 may start ivitli sized orel of snitable'niesh, siibject it to the separating and'conceiitrating influence ot' the fiowingivater in rtank porl tion 86, recrusli the inifldlings and subject -theni to the separating and concentrating infinvenee oi' the nioresloivly ioyvingwater i, jliifi'nk portiti 87, and so onV until the sepaation and concentration has been `carried to 'any desired extent.

Having now described my in.vei'ition,whai Li/elaini asneiv therein anddesirc vto protect by Letters latent is as follo\vs:-

`1. Means for concentrating ores includingv a' plurality of horizontal-lyeloiigiited,fsiili ystantia'llyr level, endless tanks` said` tanks being arranged adjacent to each other and so that each tank Aencept one' surrounds an adjacent tank, means-for producing a. uniform flow of liquid in a horizontal direction in portions oi' each of the tanks, ,means for introducing ore into the uniformly iowing. I iqiiid in each tank. ivlieieliy the-ore coristituents are separated. and deposited according to their densities by the action of gravity and the flowing liquid, and means for eollectiiig and removing ore constituents so de posited.'substantially as described.

2. Means for iuincentratiiig ores including` .a pluralityy ot' horizontally elongated substantially level. endless tanks. `said tanks being arranged adjacent to each other and so thatfeaeli tank except one surrounds an, adjacent tank, and means for'maintaining :i substantially uniform iioiv of iiqiiid in e. horizontal direction in portions ot' each of said tanks, siil'istaiitially as described.

3. Means for concentrating ores ineliuling a plurality of horizontally elongated. substantially level. endless` tanks, said tanks liaviiig concentrating portions of different widths and being arranged adjacenty to each..V

other and so that each tank except one sur# l rounds an adjacent tank.' each oi' said tanksV having portions o diii'erent widths. and ineans for maintaining siihstai'itially uiiiforni iioivs oi' liquid in ahorizontal direction and at-siiceessivel-v slower rates in `con.- centrating poilionsWot each of said tanks,

` substantially as described.

4. ln apparatus ot' the class described, an elongated concentrating tank, means for in.` a feed chute wholly disposed aliore the flou' of liquid for feeding oi'e into the liquid. anda float ,supported solely by the iow of liquid adjacent to and slightly' beyond the outlet ofi the i'eed chute to insure the complete siibniersion oi the ore ted 'from the feed i chiite, substantiall yasV described.

maintaining a uniform flow oi' liquid there ist 1,1 :gege v 15. n apparatus ofthe class described, 2m

v igzlited concentrating tank, means, for maintaining a uniform ow of liquid there in, means wholly disposed above the fow a, float supported solely by thefiow of liquid adjacent and slightly beyond the outlet of the feeding means '4.10 insure the con'iplete submersion of the me 'e. from the *feeding means, subsmi'itigiliy as described.

This Speciiicatioxi signed and Witneseed this 21st day of Muy, le of liquid for feeding ore into the liquid, and

v THOS. A. EDSO. Witnesses z HENRY LANAHAN, ANNA E. KLEHM. 

